Locking device for automobiles.



J. BYSTROM. LOOKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLIUATION FILED DEC; 28, 1911.

1,037,203 Patented Sept.3,1912

' UNITED STATES PATEN'IDFFICEg Joint rYs'rhoM; orcnroaeo, rumors, assieivoa 'ro JOHN HOWARD MoELROY, or

CHICAGO,'ILLINOIS.

LOCKING DEVICE Fort AUTOMGBILES.-

1 Applicationfiled December 28, 1911. Serial No. 668,38ti. v

To all whom may concern: v Be it known that I, JOHN Brsrnoim'a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the countyof Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain, new and useful'Improvements in Locking Devices for Automobiles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactspecification.

My invention is concerned with locks for automobiles, and is designed to producea simple and elfective lock ermanently attached to the machine, an so constructed and located that the driver can quickly, and with the minimum of effort, lock the machine so as to prevent its being readily driven away by an unauthorized personnot having the key to unlock the machine, and it is further designed so that it can be substantially as readily unlocked and" thrown put of action by the possessor of the proper %0 illustrate my invention, I annex hereto a sheet of drawings, in which the same reference characters are used to designate identical parts in all the figures, of which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the steering wheel of an automobile, showing my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the supporting element which is secured to the supporting sleeve of the steering wheel shaft; Fig. 3 is a section through one of the spokes of the steering wheel,

showing the locking device in operation; anld Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the locking yo e.

In carrying out my invention, I preferably secure to the supporting sleeve a, containing the shaft ofthe steering wheel 6, the

clamping yoke c, which is suitably constructed so that it can be clamped firmly upon the sleeve 0;, in such a manner that it cannot readily be displaced or removed without the employment of tools. While I have shown the member d as securedby screws 0 with the slotted portions of their heads cut off after it has been clamped in place on the opposed member f, Icontemplate employing connections which will be even more diflicult ofs'eparation. In the preferred form of my invention, I associate with this yoke c, the supporting sleeve 9, through which slides freely the supporting rod h of the locking yoke j, and to prevent the removal of the rod Specification of Letters Patent. Y Patented I h, I form on immovaloly secureto the lower end thereof the flange or projection k,

which prevents therod being drawn'upward and out of the sleeve 9. On the supporting spring'lock on the interior thereof, which end of the arm Z'of'the yol' ej,'I'pi vot the I locking-bar m, which is; provided with a has a beveled, preferably spring pressed,

locking bolt n projecting from the free end thereof-and adapted to cooperate with'the locking recess 0: formed in the face of the up per end got the other arm of the yoke j.

This upper end 9 is reduced 'on threejsides (all exceptthe innermost) so that: when the v lockmg-bar m is swung down and caught by the spring-catch, the reduced upper end 1 1 is surrounded on all sideslby the locking'bar mso as to prevent access to the fspring pressed bolt 7. Of course,the' lock will be provided with the keyhole r in the upper end into which the key can be readily inserted anddturned to release the lockwhen it is desire The operation of the device will be readily apparent from Fig. 1. When the automobile is in use, the locking-rod and yoke are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, with the locking-bar hanging down, as shown in saidFig. 1,;and as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

When the user stops the machine, after he has driven up to the curb, he simply raises the locking rod until the yoke embraces the nearest spoke of the steering wheel I), which may have to be turned a trifle to bring the spoke into the vertical plane of the yoke. If anybody attempts to drive the automobile away, 'they are unable to operate the steering wheel, and as machines are usually left with the steering wheels-turned, an unauthorized driver could only drive in a curve, which would shortly bring him to grief. Similarly, if by chance the machine should be left with the steering wheels di-. rected to drive straight ahead, it would be impossible for a thief to proceed any distance without getting into trouble of some sort.

awhile I have shown and described my invention as embodied in the form which I consider best adapted to carry out its purpose, it will be understood that itis capable of modifications, and that I do not desire to 20 yoke, suppgrting means for be-limited in the interpretation of the folclaims, except as may be necessitated by the state of the prior art.

What I claim as-new and desire to secure v bv Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a locking device for. automobiles, the

combination witha steering wheel, of a oke, supporting means for yoke wherey it can be moved from a normal unlocked. v position beneath the wheel up into the plane of the wheel to embrace the latter to prevent its rotation, and a lockin member carriedby the top of the yoke an adapted tomove to close the yoke to lock the wheel or to open it to permit it to move down out of of the wheel to embrace the latter-todpreventits rotation, a locking member carrie by the top of the yoke and ada ted to move to close the'yoke to lock the w eel or to open it to permit it to move down out of engagement with the wheel, and a lock in said locking member adapted to be operated from above toopenthe yoke.

Copies of this patent may be obtained! Washington, D. 0."

3. In a 100 device for automobiles, the combination wit a steering wheel, of a statiynary support for the same, a yoke att ched to engage the wheel so as to prevent its rotation, a spring lock closing the top of the yoke to prevent its unauthorized removal from the wheel, and a support attached to the stationary support and the yoke, and movable to carry the latter into and out of engaging position.

4. In a locklng device for automobiles, the combination with a member adapted to be clamped on thesleeve of the steering wheel shaft of an automobile, a supporting sleeve carried by the said member, a rod free to slide in said sleeve, but not capable of removal therefrom, a yoke carried by the up per end of said sleeve, anda locking bar pivoted on the top ,oflthe yoke and adapted to clamp the sameflto the spoke of a steering wheel. v

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set m hand and a ed myseal, this 22nd day 0 December, A. D. 1911. Y

, JOHN BYSTROMV 1,. 8.

I Witnesses;-

JOHN HOWARD MCELROY, ERIK L. Knae.

five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, 

